$200 Wireless Oculus VR Headset to Be Unveiled in 2018

Facebook Inc. is focusing closely on the price point for its Oculus Rift virtual reality products. This week it was revealed in a report by Bloomberg that the company will market a non-tethered VR headset, currently code-named “Pacific,” that will sell for as little as $200. The cheaper, wireless device resembles a more compact version of the Rift and will be lighter than Samsung’s Gear VR headset, according to the report.

“The device’s design and features aren’t finalized and could still change, but the idea is that someone will be able to pull the headset out of their bag and watch movies on a flight just the way you can now with a phone or tablet,” Bloomberg said in its piece.

VR hardware currently is offered on cheap headsets that turn smartphones into virtual reality players, like Gear or cardboard boxes. It also is offered with the $400 Oculus Rift, which must be tethered to a more-powerful PC.

According to Bloomberg, “Pacific” will have a similar interface to Samsung’s VR Gear and can be controlled by a wireless remote. Facebook’s new VR handset will ship in 2018. The company plans to begin briefing content makers on the device by October.